How freaking bizarre. I saw this thread this morning and thought "we did that" and started responding, then realized I was the OP.

We did go down and search out some of these areas.....I thank the Gods we did not move to Texas. We felt like fish out of water and their politics so atrocious that I would be embarrassed to live in that State today.

Not sure what the hell we were thinking 11 years ago when we entertained this idea.

I think you--and many others--would be surprised how liberal and tolerant the Austin area actually is today. Actually Texas as a whole is changing--quite rapidly--and is much different than it was even 10 years ago. For anyone who paid even a passing glance at the recent election for US Senate, well it was the closest race in Texas for many, many years.

While Austin is certainly no San Francisco, it isn't a dire place to live.